The White House correspondent maintains that talks with Raul Castro's relatives were close to materializing, but they met with resistance in Cuba and Miami.
The official oversaw the charges against Raul Castro over the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown and another investigation promoted by Donald Trump.
The U.S. official linked the 14ymedio director's detention with other recent cases involving Adelth Bonne, Camila Acosta and Henry Constantín.
The September 24 meeting coincided with public statements by Bruno Rodríguez and Carlos Fernández de Cossío about the scope of bilateral exchanges.
The decision ends 36 years of cooperation under the brigade model but will allow Cuban professionals to continue working in the country.
The journalist's husband said she was intercepted while taking her cat to a veterinary appointment and that neighbors rescued the animal after it was left in the street.
